Reality Check

As soon as I think I have my confidence level up, she (the ocean) gives me a reality check to put me back in my place.  She tests me every now and then to see if I'm worthy for a ride and to humble me so that I always remember who's boss.  I thought I was ready for a set wave and was brought back down to reality in a quickness.  I catapulted in front of my board and was sucked under like being tumbled in a washing machine.  Once I came up for air, another wave was about to crash on top of me.  I was in the impact zone... familiar territory and NOT fun.  I was freaked out and was done for the day.  My legs couldn't stop trembling.  I wasn't sure if it was the cold, or fear, or both.

Random photo: taken at Garden of the Gods in Colorado.  

Advice from an experienced SUP surfer: "Charge It!"  He was watching me and said that I looked like a deer in headlights when I stalled at the lip.  You can't hesitate.  Make the decision to do it and just charge though.  Easier said than done, huh?  I believe it's good advice though.  I'm not saying we need to just be gung-ho without being smart or safe about things.    But when I make the decision to do something, including catching a head-high wave, I need to go at it 110% with no hesitation.  My new mantra has just changed from "Zero to Sixty" to "CHARGE!"

A Woman Can Never Have Enough Pairs of Shoes

I received the best pair of shoes for Christmas!  I'm not ashamed to say that I am a "shoe whore".  I love shoes and have a closet-full of shoes that could challenge Imelda Marcos.  And even with all the shoes I have owned in the past years, I have never owned a pair as special and unique as my newest pair.

These are the O'Neill Psycho, 3mm round toe boot.  They are a stylish ankle-length and have a great gripping sole.  I used them SUP surfing yesterday.  They kept my feet warm so I didn't feel as cold as I usually do.  After a while, you forget that you have a pair of booties on because they are so comfortable.  My only issue was water filling the boots but next time I'll pull my wetsuit over the boot and I think that should solve this issue.  Surprisingly, they were pretty easy to put on and take off.  Without the boots, my feet would get so numb from the cold water.    I highly suggest getting a pair of boots if you plan on surfing throughout these cold winter months.  I'm also planning on getting a hood and possibly a fleece-like lining to keep me warm.  I'll keep you posted!

My First Christmas Present

My family celebrates Christmas Eve so I probably went to bed around 2:00 am last night, or shall I say this morning.  Do you think that stopped me from getting up at 6:00 am this morning for an early Christmas surf?  Okay yes, I got up at 7:00 am instead.  It wasn't an ideal day for surfing-- gloomy and small surf but it was still great being out there on Christmas day.  Everything went pretty smooth and easy until...

Glad I painted my toenails yesterday :)

I somehow acquired a nasty cut on the bottom of my big toe.  I didn't notice it until I saw all the blood on the pad of my board.  I continued surfing for a while and it continued to bleed.  It wasn't painful until I finally got out and the stinging sensation kicked in (or maybe my foot wasn't numb anymore from the cold water).  I couldn't let it ruin the routine trip to breakfast after surfing so we taped it up.  Painters tape works well but any would have done the trick.

It's not a huge cut but deep enough to cause some throbbing pain.  Basically like a huge paper cut on my toe.  The toughest part was cleaning the sand out of the wound.  Ouch!  I'm hoping that this is as bad as it gets with my surf injuries but I have a feeling that it's only the beginning.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Wishing everyone peace, love and friendship 

during this holiday season! 

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones 

and happiness all through the new year.

The Wacky Adventures of Liza and Mary

I enjoy water in all of its forms.  When it's cold, windy and rainy in San Diego, I rather head up the mountain and take it in it's frozen state.  I wanted to take advantage of the storms this week and head out to the snow.  I have one female friend who is always game to travel on a sometimes not-so-well-planned-out journey, even if it may be a risky undertaking.  We knew that the storms were raging in Nor Cal and took it as an opportunity for an adventurous trip to Mammoth.  Little did we know what we were in for...

Here I am trying to attach the inside portion of the snow chains.

After 2 different attempts at installing mandatory snow chains --the first loaned by a friend was too small (the sizing on the bag is definitely wrong!) and had to drive back to Bishop only to purchase another set that was too big!!  Don't ask.  At this point, I was going to somehow make it work and not have to drive all the way back to Bishop again.

Mary and I ghetto-rigged these snow chains.  We made due with what we had.
The rubber in the inset was not part of this snow chain set.

We finally got the snow chains on and passed the safety check point (how??) at around 10:40 am.  We noticed that as we were driving toward Mammoth Mountain, many were headed away from it.  Should we have taken this as a sign?



When we finally arrived in Mammoth there was a Snow Storm Warning and possibility of road closures, meaning that if we didn't immediately turn around and head out, like many people were doing, we may risk being stranded in Mammoth.  I didn't think that was such a bad thing.  Mary, on the other hand, wanted to get back to her hubby and kiddies that evening.  Bummer.

We arrived just in time for the afternoon sessions at 12:30 pm.  Of course, there were only a couple of lifts on the Canyon side that we were at because the groomers couldn't keep up with the snow.  So we decided to head over a bit to the other side of the mountain.  Those of you who snowboard know that sometimes it will take traveling across to various ski lifts to get back to where you started.  To add more excitement to our day, the last ski lift we were in line for to take us to the top so we can head back to the other side of the mountain where our car was, closed!  We had to walk across until we hit another run that we could board down.  Ugh.  Walking on tons fresh powder in snowboard boots is not fun.

Our 8-hour drive home was another story but I'll save you the grueling details.  It definitely was an experience we'll always be reminiscing about.  Always good times Mare!!

Until Liza and Mary's next adventure.. Ciao.

A Journal for Surfers

Many of us already own one of those free tide books you can get at many surf shops.  These typically show simple charts displaying the daily tide changes.  But this is not your typical tide book:

This TIDELOG for Southern California charts tides, currents, moon, sunrise & sunset, planets and even meteor showers.  I will be using it as a journal as well by writing a brief summary about each of my surf sessions on the appropriate date.  By doing this, I'll learn which conditions are ideal for me while recording my progress.

This tidelog even has an explanation on how the moon and planets affect the tide.  It's very informative (maybe more than some of us want to know) but it helps to learn about what affects the tides and eventually know how to tell if surf conditions may be right for you even without a tide book.

Lucky Me... A Visit to The Shaping Tree

Welcome to the Stamps Shop in Seal Beach

How awesome is it that I was able to get a personal tour of the Stamps Shop by THE man himself, Tim Stamps.  When I arrived, he was shaping out a custom board, with googles and mask on, covered with foam dust.  I got to see each of the processes involved with making a surfboard!  I'm sure you can tell through my excitement that it's something I haven't witnessed before.  I was stoked to be able to watch the guys shaping, painting and glassing the boards.

Tim Stamps showing me the proper way to install the pad on a SUP board.

I first met Tim at the Sacred Surfboard Expo in SD this summer.  He is such a down to earth guy and definitely knows a thing or two about creating custom boards.  He's been shaping boards since he was a teenager.  He shapes all types of surfboards, including stand-up.  If you ever find yourself near Seal Beach, drop by the Stamps Shop and you'll be showered with hospitality.  But watch out for their guard dog...

Here's Cowboy guarding the Shaping Tree.

A New Line of SUP Boards from NorCal

Check it out!

I just received a new toy from Boga Paddleboards, a new company in Northern Cal producing stand-up paddle boards.  This is their 9'2" Bullet.  I surfed Coronado this past weekend on this fun board.  The Bullet made it an easy transition from my 11' longboard to this shorter board.  It's 32"wide so I was able to get through the whitewater with ease, as opposed to some of the usual struggles I have being pounded by the incoming surf.  This board is definitely stable, perfect for a new surfer.  It was easy to catch waves and surprisingly zoomed through the water with speed.  If you're a longboard surfer or just a new surfer wanting to try a shorter board,  the Bullet will give you the stability and drive for a sweet surf session.  Stay posted as I continue to use my Boga.  I'm sure it will help me progress with SUP surfing.

Check out their complete line of boards at bogaboards.com

A Good Day to Miss the Water

What a great day to miss going into the water!  I just got back from the Chargers vs Chiefs game.  Honestly, I haven't been able to keep up with football this season because of my new focus on Stand-Up Paddling.  Nowadays, I think and breathe SUP.  But today I took a break from it.

Today was a great day for taking my kid to her first NFL football game.  It was a great sunny day.  The game was sold out.  We tailgated with some friends in their RV and watched the Chargers kick some but-tay!  A shut-out game if you missed it!  Go Bolts!

Tis The Season... For Colds and Flus

It's that time of year when the drop in temperature hits and many San Diegans are caught sniffing and coughing.  Nobody likes to be ill.  When I'm ill all I want to do is crawl into my warm bed and sleep.  The worst of it is that it takes you away from being active and stand up paddling.  Today's Yahoo News recommended a few antidotes to boost your immune system and they happen to be things I regularly intake.  I'm not bragging (yes, I am) but I rarely get sick.  Aside from staying away from contagious individuals, always washing washing hands or using anti-bacterial lotion, try the following:

Vitamin D- may help the immune cells identify and destroy bacteria and viruses that make us sick. It's recommended to take between 1,000IU to 2,000IU to help boost your immune system. Eat salmon and fortified milk for Vitamin D.

Green Tea- I drink it almost daily.  It contains the potent plant antioxidants, Polyphenols, that provide immune boosting effects.  Don't put milk in your green tea because it will bind with the polyphenols and make them ineffective.

Probiotics- These are popular nowadays.  You'll find it in yogurt.  Probiotics suppress the growth of bad bacteria but may also activate the immune system.  Make sure you purchase fermented dairy products with the "Live and Active Cultures" seal from the National Yogurt Assn.  This guarantees that the product contains a minimum amount of two beneficial bacterias.

Don't fall for the popular gimmeck and take Airborne.  It contains all the vitamins needed for your immune system to function efficiently: Vitamin A, C, E, Zinc, Selenium but the mega doses in Airborne can be more harmful than helpful.   

So try these tricks and hopefully you won't catch a "bug".

Questions to Ponder

Should I purchase booties,
even if my friends say they won't paddle with me if I wear them?
Will I need a thicker wetsuit for this Winter season?
Will training with a wider blade help improve my strength and speed?
Should I go snowboarding in Park City, Utah,
when Southern Baja takes just as long to get to?
Does the 5 hour energy drink really work?
How does Kiwi go that fast?
Where can I get a pair of big muscular arms like Brandi Baksic?
How long until I stop having so many questions about SUPing????

Guest Blogger: Through My Daughter's Eyes

Since my mom's discovery of stand up paddling in Maui, I noticed so many changes in her lifestyle and attitude. In Maui, she was so intrigued by the locals who were paddling, she was inspired to try it out herself. My mom has always been the kind of person to fight to reach those ever so distant dreams. However, she is also the person who thinks not placing in your first race is unacceptable. For all the things we do, like snowboarding, volleyball, even traveling, I have never seen her be more passionate than stand up paddling. Her perseverance is exceptional. She aspires to paddle everyday to improve on her speed and surf skills.

From going to competitions, watching my mom practice and even attempting to paddle myself, I've notice how much stand up paddling has stemmed. It has spread to the rest the world. Paddle boarding is a huge investment and at first I was against my mom buying a board. But I caved when my mom told me that unlike surfing, you can paddle anywhere you go. All you need is water. I liked how whether it's an ocean, bay, lake, river or even a pool, all you need is a board, paddle and a smile to have a fun workout and hobby. I am proud that my mom has found a exhilarating sport that is fun and different.